Retracting mechanism for the cloth rests of cloth-surfacing machines



March 2 1926.

' R. M. SHARP nmmc'rms uscmmsu FOR THE CLOTH RFSTS 0F CLOTH sunmcme mcnmss Filed July 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 2 1926.

- R. M. SHARP RETRAGTING MECHANISM FOR THE CLOTH RESTS 0F CLOTH SURFACING MACHINES Fil ed July 2s 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

ROY M. SHARP, WHEELING, "WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO J L. .S'RiFEL &' SONS, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

RETRACTING MECHANISM FOR THE CLOTH RESTS OF GLOTHi-SURFACING MACHINES.

Application filed July 23, 1925. Serial No. 45,644.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoY M. Sznnnr, a citizen. of the United States of America, and resident of iVheeling, county of Ohio, and State of VJest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retracti-ng lixlechanisms for the Cloth Rests of Cloth-Surfacing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to machines for shearing projecting loose ends ofthreads, knots and the like from the surfaces of cloth fabrics, particularly cotton and silk, as a preliminary to printing the fabric, and it relates more particularly to an automatic mechanism for controlling the shiftable cloth rests for such machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, in a fabric shearing, or surfacing,

machine, mechanism whereby the cloth rests which are associated with the shearing blades are automatically shifted. to. open position u on the close approach to said; blades, or the foremost thereof, of the seams by which the ends of adjacent lengths; of the fabric are joined in; the formation of a. continuous web or strip, thereby to pass said seams by the blades without engagement with the latter.

Heretofo-re, each individual machine of the character mentioned has required the constant presence of an attendant who, as the cormectiing seams of the ad ancing strip approaches the shearing mechanism, must promptly, or at the proper moment, u ally shift the cloth rests to. positions Wherein the seams of the strip are allowed to pass said shearing blades without being contacted by the latter; otherwise, said blades would; ordinarily shear into the cloth at the increased thickness produced by the scans, re-

sulting in mutilation of the cloth and a consequent prevention of the further orderly advance of the latter.

As hereinbefore indicated, it is the aim of the present invention to, provide means adapted to be actuated by each successive scam in the fabric strip and at a predetermined point in the close approach of the same to the foremost of the series of shearing blades to shift the cloth rests from their positions in cloth-presenting relation to said blades and to maintain said rests in such withdrawn position until the. seam has passed by the last oftlie series of blades.

In describing the invention. in detail, reference herein had to thea-ccompanying drawings, in WhlCh- Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of shearing machine embodying my invention; Figure 2 a diagrammatic view illus trating the electric wiring;

Figure 3v is an enlarged top plan View of the shiftable gearing and associated parts; Figure 4 is an enlarged sideelevation of the circuit breaker for the magnet energiz mg electric circuit;

Figure 5- is a top plan view of the seamactuated closing device for the pilot circuit; Figure 6 is an outer end elevation of the same, 7

Figure 7 is a side elevation of, the same Figure 8- is a detail view, partially in end elevation and partially in section, illustrating the shearing elements and. the associated cloth rest; and-'- Figaro 9 is a side elevation of a frag;- me-ntary portion of the same. 7

Referring, to. said drawings, 1 indicates generally the frame of a shearing machine of any ordinary commercial type,sai.d frame having journal'ed thereon in the usualarrangement a plin'al-ity of spiralty ribbed shearing rolls, or revolvers, 2, '3 and i which operate in assoeiationewi th adjacent stationary shearing blades 5, and 7, respectively, for sheawing projecting threadends and fibers from the opposite surfaces of the fabric web or strip.

The fabric or cloth- 8 to be acted upon,

provided in the form of a contini-ious strip of great length: formed by stitching together the adjacent ends of shorter lengths, is advanced lengthwise throughthe n-iachine by suitable means, as by suitably located traction rolls 9 and 10, being caused; to traverse a tortuous path which is indicated in Fig;

1 by the dot-andi-dash line designated 1-1.

Underlying the revolvers and 4-, respectively, are the usual: pivotaliy mounted cloth rests 12' and 13 by" means of which the traveling strip of cloth is nonmaliy held elevated inclosely underlying relation to said revollversand the blades 5. and 7;. and overlyitug the revolver 3 is the pi-votally mounted rest 14: whereby said strip is; normally lie-lid depressed closely overlying relation to said revolver 3 and the therewith associated blade 6,v saidz clEotlr rests serving so to. guide said strip: relative to said rolls and blades that the latter will effectively perform their function.

In order that the double thickness of cloth at the seams 15, employed in joining the ends of adjacent lengths in the formation of the strip, would be caused to traverse a path in which said seams .do not encounter the shearing blades,'thereby to prevent the cloth mutilation hereinbefore referred to, suitable link and lever mechanism has heretofore been employed whereby said cloth rests could be manually moved from cloth-presenting relation to the shearing blades. In the present invention automatic mechanism is employed for the same purpose, said mechanism comprising link and lever shifting devices connected to each cloth rest, a magnet coil, means adapted tobe actuated by said coil, when energized, whereby said shifting devices are actuated, an energ zing electric circuit for said coil, and closer for said circuit arranged to be successively operated by the seams in the cloth. upon the close approach of such seams to the foremost of said cloth rests.

As herein shown, the magnet coil, designated 16, is suitably supported, as by a bracketarm 17, at or adjacent to the rear end of the frame 1. Journaled in a bearing 18 carried by a supporting arm 19 fixed on said frame is a short transverse'shatt 20. Said shaft, which is both rotatable and longitudinally shiftable in said bearing carries thereon an annularly channeled wheel 21, and received in the channel of said wheel is the yoke-like end of a shifting arm 22 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a stationary support, as the arm 23, carried by the frame. The opposite, or outer, end of the shifting arm 22 is so located with respect to the magnet coil 16 tha when the latter becomes energized, it will be drawn into engagement with the coil against the tension of a retractile coil spring 24 which is interposed between said outer end and a fixed member, as 25, carried by the frame. Said spring normally maintains said shifting arm in a position wherein the latter holds the shaft 20 retracted in its inward position. In said position a member 26 carried by said shaft and forming the movable part of a clutch, is withdrawn from opera ive relation to its companion member 27, which latter is fixed to a sprocket wheel 28 that is rotatably mounted upon the bearing 18, or upon a reduced portion 18 of said bearing. Rotation is communicated to said sprocket wheel through a chain 2!) which connects it to a constantly rotated sprocket 30 carried by the shaft 31 upon which the traction roll 10 is mounted.

Following interengagement of the clutch member 26 with its companion member 27, rotation is imparted to the shaft 20 and, through the-latter, to a disk 32 carried on the outer end thereof. Said disk carries on its outer face an eccentrically located wristpin 33 upon which is pivotally mounted an end of a link 34 that has its opposite end pivotally connected to the overhanging shorter arm of a bell-crank lever 35 which is pivoted on the frame 1 at a suitable point. The depending longer arm of said bell crank is connected by a pitman 36 to the free upper end of a crank arm 37 carried by a shaft 38 which is journaled in bearings 39 on thelower front end portion of the frame, or upon a bracket 40 carried by the latter. Additionally, said shaft 38 carries crank arms 41 and 42 which are connected by links or pitmen 43 and 44, respectively, to arms 45 and 46 carried in fixed relation to the cloth rests 12 and 13, respectively.

The cloth rests 12, 13 and 14 are normally held disposed in their cloth-presenting relation to the adjacent shearing devices, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, by means of weights (not shown) which are associ ated therewith, this being the usua construction employed in prior machines of this character. However, as the disk 32 rotates from its normal at-rest position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the rests 12 and 13 are rocked downward on their pivotal mountings 47 and 48 to the dotted line position shown, thus lowering the traveling strip of cloth out of operative relation to the shearing blades 5 and 7. At the same time, through the intermediacy of a pitman 4-9 connecting suitably arranged crank arms 50 and 51 carried by the rests 12 and 14, respectively, said rest 14 is rocked upward on its pivotal mounting 52 for withdrawing the cloth from the shearing blade 6. Thus,

as is evident, promptly following the energizing of the magnet coil 16, the various cloth rests are withdrawn to positions permitting the cloth to be drawn through the machine without coming into contact with any of the shearing blades; and the time during which the strip is so withdrawn is that required for the travel of the strip from the closing device for the electric cir uit to and past the last of the series of shearing blades.

In its travel to the machine herein described, the strip of cloth passes vertically downward to and under a roller 53 journaled adjacent to the lower front end portion of theframe 1, as upon the bracket 4-0, and thence passes upward to and over the foremost cloth rest 12. Supported adjacent to said roller 53, as upon a bracket 54 car ried by the frame is a depending panel 55 in which are mounted the adjacent ends of two parallel bolts or rods 56, and pivotally suspended from said rods are two parallel horizontal members 57 and 58 which are separated to provide a vertical slot-like passor throat-59 through which an edge portion of the cloth strip in its vertical travel to the roller 53 must pass, said throat having a width but little in excess of that required to accommodate a single thickness of the cloth. Carried by one of said pivotalzly suspended members, as the member 57, is a depending metal contact 60, and carried by theother of said members is a metal contact (ihthe latter being extended downward under and thence upward in front of the contact '60 and carrying a screw terminal (32 which is adapted for adjustment relative to the adjacent terminal of said contact (30. Said contacts 60 and 61 are located in an electric pilot circuit which includes a clapper switch 63 of a well understood form and conductors (ll-.and 65, respectively, interp'osed between said contacts 60 and G1 and said clapper switch. Said clapper switch is further-located in a main circuit to the magnet coil, said CH'CUlt-COInpIlSHlg a conductor '60 leadingtr'om a source of electric current,

said clapper switch, a conductor 67 leading from said switch to said magnet coil, and a return conductor- '68 leading from said coil to the source of current.

The pilot circuit hereinbefore described is closed by the passage into and through the throat 59 of-a seam 15 which acts to swing the members57 and 58 apart the slight distance required to produce circuit-closing engagement between the contact 60 and the screw terminal 62. The closing of said pllot circuit serves to actuate the clapper switch.

63 to moveto main circuit closing position for energizing the magnet coil; and in its said position said switch also closes holding circuitwhereby the main circuit is retained closed throughout a definite interval of time, which interval is that which elapses in a complete revolution of the disk 32..

The holding circuit referred to includes the clapper switch 63, conductor 65, a conductor 69 ductor tact-70 of switch Tl,

which branches from said eona'nd leads to the stationary cona normally closed circuit breaker and a conduct-01772 returning to said clapperswitch from the movable contach 73 of said circuit breaker. Said circuit breaker switch comprises a bracket 74: which is fixed upon a suitable stationary part of the machine structure, as upon-the bearing 18, and which carries the fixed contact 70 on its outer end. A rearwardly dir ctedarm 75 carried by saidbra-cket "I l intermediate its ends has pivoted on its outer end the angle portion of a lever 76 of approximately right-angle, or bell-crank, form,-on'e arm of which carries the movable contact 73. A retii-a'ctile coil spring 77 interposed between said lever 76 and a stationary part, as the arm 75, normallymaintains said. lever in the position in which said contact 73 rests up'on saidcon tact 70. The 'other'arm ofsaid bell crank lever 76 depends to a point adjacent to the shaft 20 wherein it is disposed in the path of movement of a horizontally disposed pin 78'carriedby the inner face of the disk 32, or *by the hub 32 of the latter. I

The disk 32 normally occupies a position in which the pin 78 liesdirectly in front of the depending arm of the lever 7 6, as shown in Figs. 8 and a. Rotation ofsaid disk from said position, eli'ected through the interengagement, as aforesaid, of the clutch members '26 and 27, continues throughout one complete revolution, the main coil-energizing circuit being held closed until the pin 78 passes beneath the end of the depending arm of the bell-crank lever 76. In its close approach to said'position, said pin engages said lever arm and carries the latter forward therewith, swingingsaid lever on its pivotal mounting and effecting resultant breaking of the electric holding circuit through the withdrawal of the movable contaet 73 from engagement with'the stationary contact 70. The breaking of said holding circuit, as aforesaid, effects instantaneous deenergi'zingof the magnet coil 16, whereupon 'the shifting arm 22, actuated by its spring 2 is swung back to its normal position, disengaging the clutch elements 26 and 27. Further, as is evident, the cloth rests will have, at the end of the complete revolution ofthe' disk 32, resumed their normal operative positions.

A signal lamp -?9 may be employed for visually indicating to-personsdistant from the machine whether the shiftingmechanism is functioning properly, said lamp being located in 'a lighting circuitwith the clapper switch 63 in awell-understood arrangement 7.

tion to said elements, of a constantly rotated -men1ber, normally idle rotatable member,

connections between said rotatable member and said cloth rests whereby rotation of: the former actuates movement of the latter from cloth presenting position, and means controlled by abno'mal thicknesses of the advancing cloth whereby said rotatable member is automatically shifted into driven i relation to said rotated member.

2. In a cloth surfacing machine, the com bination with shearing elements, cloth advancing means, and rests normally disposed in cloth-presenting relation to said elements, of mechanismfor retracting said rests, said mechanism comprising a normally inactive rotatable member, connections between said member and said rests whereby rotation of the dormer 'actuatesretracting' movement of 7 said rests, and means actuated by abnormal thicknesses in the cloth whereby said member is rendered active.

3. In a-cloth surfacing machine, the com bination with shearing elements, cloth advancing means, and rests normally disposed in cloth-presenting relation to said elements, of mechanism for retracting said rests, said mechanism comprising a constantly rotated member, a rotatable member shiftable into and out of driven relation to said rotated member, connections between said shiftable member and said rests whereby rotation of the former actuatcs retracting movement of the latter, and electrical means for el'l'ecting shifting of said shiftable member to its driven position, said means being adapted to be activated by an abnormal thickness in the cloth at a predetermined point in the travel of the latter.

at. In a cloth surfacing machine, the combination with shearing elements, cloth advancing means, and rests normally disposed in cloth-presenting relation to said. elements, of mechanism for retracting said rests, said mechanism comprising a constantly rotated member, a rotatable member shiftable into and out of driven relation to said rotated member, connections between said shiiitable member and said rests whereby rotation of the former actuates retracting movement of the latter, means including an electrically energizable element for effecting movement of said shittable member to its driven position, a normally open electric energizing cir cuit for said element, and closing means for said circuit'including contacts adapted to be moved into engagement by an abnormal thickness in the traveling cloth.

5. In a cloth surfacing machine, the combination with shearing elements, cloth advancing means, and rests normally disposed in cloth-presenting relation to said elements, of mechanism for retracting said rests, said mechanism comprising a constantly rotated member, a rotatable member shiftable into and out of driven relation to said rotated member, connections between said shiftable member and said rests Whereby'rotation of the former actuates retracting movement of the latter, means including an electrically onergizable element for effecting movement of said shiftable member to its driven position, an electric energizing circuit for said element, and means actuated by a seam in the cloth whereby closing of said circuit is effected.

6. In a cloth surfacing machine, retracting mechanism for the cloth rests, comprising a constantly rotated member, a rotatable member shiftable into and out of driven relation to said rotated member, connections between said shiftable member and said rests avhei-eby rotation of the former actuates the latter to move from and return to normal position, means normally holding said shittable member in its idle position, an electrically energizable element, means actuated by said element when energized for moving said shittable member to operative position, a normally open energizing circuit for said. energizable element, said circuit being adapted to be closed by seams in the advancing cloth at a predetermined point in the travel, and means for opening said circuit.

7. In a cloth surfacing machine, the combination with shearing elements, and shittable rests normally disposed in cloth presenting relation to said elements, of a constantly rotated member, a normally stationary rotatable member, connections between said rotatable member and said rests whereby rotation of the former actuate; shifting movement of the latter from and to their normal position, clutch mechanism for effecting shifting of said rotatable member into and out of driven relation to said constantly rotated member, and means set in operation by successive seams in the advancing cloth whereby said clutch mechanism is actuated to move said rotatable mem ber to operative position at a predetermined point in the travel of said seams.

8. In a cloth surfacing machine, the combination with shearing elements, and shiftable rests normally disposed in cloth presenting relation to said elements, of a constantly rotated member, a normally stationary rotatable member, connections between said rotatable-member and said rests whereby rotation of the former actuates shifting movement of the latter from and to their normal position, clutch mechanism for effecting shifting of said rotatable member into and out of driven relation to said constantly rotated member, and means set in operation by successive seams in the advancing cloth whereby said clutch mechanism is actuated to move said rotatable member to operative position at a predetermined point in the travel of said seams, said means including an electrically energizable element, a normally open energizing circuit for said element, and a circuit closing device.

9. In a cloth surfacing machine, the combination with shearing elements, and shiftable rests normally disposed in cloth presenting relation to said elements, of a constantly rotated member, a normally stationary rotatable member, connections between said rotatable member and said rest-s whereby rotation of the former aotuates shifting movement of the latter from and to their normal position, clutch mechanism for effecting shifting of said rotatable member into and out of driven relation to said constantly rotated member, and means set in operation by successive seams in the advancing clothwhereby said clutch mechanism is actuated to move said rotatable mom.- ber to operative position at a predetermined point in the travel of said seams, said means including a normally deenergized magnet coil, a normally open electric energiaing circuit for said coil, a clutch shifter adapted to be actuated by said coil \vhcn enernized, and means adapted to be moved by succe sive seams in the advancing cloth for closing said electric circuit.

10. In a cloth surfacing machine, the combination with shearing elements, and shiitable rests normally disposed in cloth presenting relation to said elements, of a constantly rotated member, a normally stationary rotatable member, connections be tween said rotatable member and said rests whereby rotation of the former actuates' shifting movement of the latter from and to their normal position, clutch mechanism for eflt'ecting shifting of said rotatable member into and out of driven relation to said constantly rotated member, and means set in operation by successive seams in the advancing cloth whereby said clutch mechanism is actuated to move said rotatable member to operative position at a predetermined point in the travel of said seams, said means including a normally deenergized magnet- V at predetermined times.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ROY M. SHARP. 

